Not long ago, I was driving down the highway with my kids when one told me that he just saw a really big hot dog on wheels. By the time I looked, it was gone. The claim was naturally questioned by the middle schooler in the back seat! I interrupted the amusing exchange to tell them that he may actually have seen the Wienermobile.

The Wienermobile, I explained, was actually a large hot dog on wheels that traveled around north America, and beyond, essentially advertising Oscar Mayer while also performing charitable work. The last time I had seen it was more than 3,000 miles away and over 3 decades earlier. As I recall, it had come to my hometown in southern California and was passing out colorful whistles shaped like wieners, which I happily waited in line to receive.

We continued on our way and I forgot about it until that evening when I looked it up on the Oscar Mayer website. It turned out, that he had indeed seen the Wienermobile and it was going to be in our area through the next day raising money for sick children. My kids had to see this for themselves, so the next day we were off to take a look…

It was in a supermarket parking lot, not unlike the one it was in when I had seen it last.

The Wienermobile looked pretty much the same too.

Everyone was busy inspecting it and the gullwing door was particularly fascinating to all present.

As you can see, parallel parking and backing-up should probably be avoided when driving it as the result could easily be a damaged dog.

This particular Wienermobile was not as big as you would think up close, but was every bit as cool as you would expect in person!

The inside was bright with large comfortable looking seats.

Surprisingly, it also sported a state-of-the-art sound system and flat screen monitors as well.

The license plate was of course personalized and fully appropriate.

There have been many models of Wienermobile since its inception in 1936, though the overall look has remained surprisingly consistent.

The Wienermobile staff also still hand out small whistles, though these were not brightly colored, though they instead glow in the dark.

As we were walking away my youngest thanked me and said that we always went on the coolest adventures, to which I had to agree. If you ever see a large wiener on wheels, do yourself a favor and check it out!

The weather was ideal with a slight breeze and high clouds and the traffic was light when we arrived for the park’s opening.

The crowd was not too heavy at the gate, though we still had 45 minutes to wait.

Fortunately time passed quickly with music (sorry – no Justin Bieber), entertainment, and even a brief speech, and soon the gates were opened!

The shops and restaurants were the first things that we saw and the staff were all very welcoming and friendly.

The Island in the Sky Ride was renovated and kept as a reminder of the past.

It afforded a great view of the park from 150 feet above.

There were some really cool models to see of many familiar places done in fine detail.

There are also many rides that, for the most part, had short lines.

They kept the fantastic scenery from when the property was occupied by Cypress Gardens, such as this southern belle, in Legos of course!

The gardens make for a quiet and beautiful break from the pace of the rest of the park.

Before we knew it, it was nearly closing time and we had to depart.

By the time we started to leave, the park was getting ready to close and end its first day of business. My family very much enjoyed the visit and brought back more than a few souvenirs, many good memories, and a desire to return again, which is not a bad first day outcome for any amusement park!

A guy with a desk!

@DrAnthony

I was born and raised in southern California, but I currently live in central Florida. Like most people, the roles in life I have are numerous and include; son, father, husband, brother, uncle, friend, supervisor, mentor, and others. People, and the ways we relate to each other, fascinate me and I always enjoy interacting and making new friends.

My journey has so far taken me from China to Germany, Oregon to New York, and from the desert to the ocean and back again. I started college at 16, dropped out to enlist in the Army and take a break, and went back and earned a bachelors, masters, and doctorate. Along the way, I got married, had kids, and adopted pets, which currently include 2 dogs, a Guinea Pig and a Beta fish. Spending time with family, learning, writing and travel are my primary pursuits these days when I am not earning a living.

I have worked in many different industries and jobs and have been a life-long student of people. I am a possibility thinker who aspires to live fully, always learn, and enjoy life, as much as possible. In this blog, I will share stories, information, and ideas that I have come across, experienced, or thought about that will (hopefully) be interesting, inspiring or entertaining to read.